Loren Terveen

I mentioned this yesterday, but I (personally) still feel uncomfortable dealing with *anyone* expressing ANGER in a work context. Again, for me personally, it isn't productive, and (I believe) not necessary for me to feel that something needs to be done / changed.

Lots to think through. First point is the pernicious stereotype itself. If a white man and a Black women say the same critical thing but he is perceived as smart and thoughtful (or whatever) and she is perceived as the angry Black women, that's harmful. I think you agree w/ that.

For the second, I'd recommend trying treat the concept of anger as a deeply social, contextual, non-neutral state. We don't all have the same right to be angry, and people who do include, for example, Black women who have been discriminated against for centuries in the US.

So even though you might feel that you don't have a need to be angry (in the workplace, or other contexts), that might also just reflect your position in the world. That may not reflect your colleagues' positions in the world and we should give space for different experiences.

I'm not an expert on this and am wary of speaking on behalf of others groups. But I also think pointing it out is important, especially to folks who are senior good people who can be allies for others. (ie you!)

You are making important and reasonable points, almost all of which I agree with. I will reiterate, however, that I am unsure that *expressing anger explicitly* actually is an effective way to get things done. Do certain people have a right to *feel more anger*? Yes, of course.

But again, whether expressing anger in a workplace is *effective* is a separate question. I'll say (again) maybe there are contexts in which expressing anger is necessary -- otherwise, people won't pay attention, won't consider it urgent. But in other contexts...

Expressing the anger (that one feels) just may not be an effective way to get heard and create change. At least that's how I feel.